Author Topic: Thunderbirds by Mike Lull  (Read 19601 times)

TBird1958

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6536
  • "you know the rule, No boots,No glam!"
    • View Profile
    • www.thenastyhabits.com
Thunderbirds by Mike Lull
« on: January 08, 2009, 03:16:12 PM »

Hey All,

 Here's what Mike has as of 1/08/2009.
These are the first two prototypes, and as you can see the as yet unchromed pup covers. The pick ups themselves are due today or tomorrow being held up by Washington's absymal weather. The last shot is of my single pick version  ;D
 They're off to NAMM!



Resident T Bird playing Drag Queen www.thenastyhabits.com  "Impülsivê", the new lush fragrance as worn by the unbelievable Fräulein Rômmélle! Traces of black patent leather, Panzer grease, mahogany and model train oil mingle and combust to one sheer sensation ...

Basvarken

  • Global Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 6861
  • hobby luthier. gibson bass nerd
    • View Profile
    • www.enkoo.nl
Re: Thunderbirds by Mike Lull
« Reply #1 on: January 08, 2009, 03:30:04 PM »
They look beautiful!

Can I ask how much the pickup covers cost?

sniper

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1420
  • one bark....one kill....got mud?
    • View Profile
Re: Thunderbirds by Mike Lull
« Reply #2 on: January 08, 2009, 03:33:19 PM »
those body curves show up a lot better here Mark. i like that a lot.
I can be true to you sweety until I find a nice medium scale with great breasts. ... CW

gearHed289

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4416
    • View Profile
    • Book of faces...
Re: Thunderbirds by Mike Lull
« Reply #3 on: January 08, 2009, 03:40:04 PM »
Nice of him to add one more unreachable fret.  ;D

OldManC

  • Global Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 3116
    • View Profile
Re: Thunderbirds by Mike Lull
« Reply #4 on: January 08, 2009, 07:01:14 PM »
Beautiful...

uwe

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 21334
  • Enabler ...
    • View Profile
Re: Thunderbirds by Mike Lull
« Reply #5 on: January 09, 2009, 03:41:13 AM »
Bolt on necks?  :o

Pricey Epis these then will be. (ducking ...)
We've taken too much for granted ... and all the time it had grown ...
From techno seeds we first planted ... evolved a mind of its own ...

TBird1958

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6536
  • "you know the rule, No boots,No glam!"
    • View Profile
    • www.thenastyhabits.com
Re: Thunderbirds by Mike Lull
« Reply #6 on: January 09, 2009, 04:00:53 AM »

 I kinda doubt they'll sound like Epi's...............I'm throwing a shoe!
There's alot of pride in those two basses, it's pretty cool to see how excited both Mike and Roger are about them, especially the pick ups. But you're right about them being pricey, I  could buy a '76 and alot (I mean alot) of girly clothes for the price of this bass.
Resident T Bird playing Drag Queen www.thenastyhabits.com  "Impülsivê", the new lush fragrance as worn by the unbelievable Fräulein Rômmélle! Traces of black patent leather, Panzer grease, mahogany and model train oil mingle and combust to one sheer sensation ...

godofthunder

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6628
  • Keep On Rock'n !
    • View Profile
    • Johnny Smoke
Re: Thunderbirds by Mike Lull
« Reply #7 on: January 09, 2009, 04:21:04 AM »
They look sharp Mark, it's so cool you are in on the ground floor of these ! Is that my bridge I see in the pile 'O parts ?
« Last Edit: January 09, 2009, 05:34:14 AM by godofthunder »
Maker of the Badbird Bridge, "intonation without modification" for your vintage Gibson Thunderbird

Barklessdog

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4473
    • View Profile
Re: Thunderbirds by Mike Lull
« Reply #8 on: January 09, 2009, 05:24:26 AM »
Nice Mark, you should get yours in Sea Foam Green

drbassman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6699
  • Gone but not forgotten
    • View Profile
Re: Thunderbirds by Mike Lull
« Reply #9 on: January 09, 2009, 06:37:28 AM »
If the price is right, they'd be a good deal IMHO.  For my money, I still like the look of Gibson TBs a little better, except for the black plastic pups!   ;)
I'm fixin' a hole where the rain gets in..........cuz I'm built for a kilt!

lowend1

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2580
    • View Profile
Re: Thunderbirds by Mike Lull
« Reply #10 on: January 09, 2009, 07:23:04 AM »
I have trouble with the headstock, which is always a huge deal for me. Somehow a Thunderbird, even the latter day Gibsons, just doesn't look right to me without that big ol' paddle. That's why the Fenderbirds are acceptable - the size of the headstock makes it look okay. Not crazy about the contours either, but that 'stock is the deal breaker. At least he used the big shaft tuners...
If you can't be an athlete, be an athletic supporter

uwe

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 21334
  • Enabler ...
    • View Profile
Re: Thunderbirds by Mike Lull
« Reply #11 on: January 09, 2009, 07:47:20 AM »
I'm sure this will be an excellent instrument and I don't have issues with the look at all, BUT: A bolt on neck with a TBird is like a neck thru-bass in P Bass shape. It just doesn't go together. The way sustain develops relatively attackless on a TBird (which is of course also due to the maho content) is its key characteristic just like you need snap attack on a Fender.
We've taken too much for granted ... and all the time it had grown ...
From techno seeds we first planted ... evolved a mind of its own ...

lowend1

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2580
    • View Profile
Re: Thunderbirds by Mike Lull
« Reply #12 on: January 09, 2009, 08:00:09 AM »
I was going to mention the neck-thru thing, but I figured that alone would make the bass more expensive to build - and sell. One question though, Uwe - Taking that into account, are you less enamored with the construction and resultant sound of the NRs?
If you can't be an athlete, be an athletic supporter

Dave W

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 22193
  • Got time to breathe, got time for music
    • View Profile
Re: Thunderbirds by Mike Lull
« Reply #13 on: January 09, 2009, 09:26:43 AM »
I'm sure this will be an excellent instrument and I don't have issues with the look at all, BUT: A bolt on neck with a TBird is like a neck thru-bass in P Bass shape. It just doesn't go together. The way sustain develops relatively attackless on a TBird (which is of course also due to the maho content) is its key characteristic just like you need snap attack on a Fender.

But aren't these supposed to be Fenderbirds in concept anyway? I mean, he obviously can't call them that, but I thought the whole idea here was to build a high-end Fenderbird, not a high-end Thunderbird.

Maybe I'm remembering wrong. Mark?

uwe

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 21334
  • Enabler ...
    • View Profile
Re: Thunderbirds by Mike Lull
« Reply #14 on: January 09, 2009, 09:45:01 AM »
I was going to mention the neck-thru thing, but I figured that alone would make the bass more expensive to build - and sell. One question though, Uwe - Taking that into account, are you less enamored with the construction and resultant sound of the NRs?

Generally, all my set neck TBirds (the sixties Non-Revs, the Orville, the Epi Elitist and the Gibson Studio) all have enough sustain that you won't miss anything in 99 % of all playing situations. But there is something inherently sweet in the sustain development of the neck-thrus, especially in the upper registers.
We've taken too much for granted ... and all the time it had grown ...
From techno seeds we first planted ... evolved a mind of its own ...